Indiana Passes E-Waste Recycling Law

Indiana governor Mitch Daniels made the Hoosier State the nineteenth to pass a law creating a statewide e-waste recycling program this week, joining California, Maine, and Minnesota in the growing movement to control e-waste. In the absence of nationwide regulations governing the flow of used and broken electronics, states have taken to the own initiatives--which both fills the regulatory gap and creates a real headache for electronics manufacturers hoping to remain compliant with the legal patchwork.

Indiana governor Mitch Daniels made the Hoosier State the nineteenth to pass a law creating a statewide e-waste recycling program this week, joining California, Maine, and Minnesota in the growing movement to control e-waste. In the absence of nationwide regulations governing the flow of used and broken electronics, states have taken to the own initiatives--which both fills the regulatory gap and creates a real headache for electronics manufacturers hoping to remain compliant with the ever-evolving legal patchwork.

"With the signing of HB 1589, Indiana has become a leader among states working to regulate electronic waste," said Carey Hamilton, Executive Director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition (IRC). Hamilton went on to say, "Because of this law, more of our electronic waste will be safely recycled as opposed to land filled, incinerated or exported. We also believe that HEA 1589 will lead to the creation of new green jobs, including sorting, processing, and recycling jobs in Indiana."

E-waste recycling laws are under consideration in several states, including Massachusetts, New York, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Colorado, Kentucky, Iowa, Pennsylvania and Utah. For more on local regulations, visit the website of the Indiana Recycling Coalition.

Jeremy Kaplan is a former executive editor for PC Magazine and co-host of the Fastest Geek competition. He also served as Editor of GoodCleanTech.com.
Kaplan helped to determine overall editorial direction, managed staff, and shaped the editorial calendar. Prior to this, Kaplan succumbed to his inner geek, launching the spin-off publication ExtremeTech Magazine. During this time, he helped popularize the Fastest Geek competition, where contestants compete to assemble a computer from parts as quickly as possible. Kaplan graduated from Vassar College in 1996, majoring in both...
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